Crafting champions

IN MANY ways, Kilkenny’s victory in this year’s All-Ireland senior hurling final could be said to be the managerial masterpiece of the year.

At the beginning of this year’s league, Brian Cody took a team that just over a year previously had been good enough to win the All-Ireland title, dismantled it, brought in several new pieces, rearranged several vital elements.

The keeper was still there, as were the No. 2 and No 3.